Blood Bowl PlayBook :: General

by Ian Williams (Games Workshop)

Blocking is one of the fundamental elements of Blood Bowl, and, for many of the ‘bashing’ teams it is absolutely crucial to having a successful team. For many of the ‘flair’ teams it can be just as important to understand how your opponent may exploit your weaknesses. Get your blocks wrong and you won’t win many games; get them right and victory will be yours. This guide is intended to help coaches get the most out of their blocking.

by Mike ‘Da Boffin’ Brooks (www.blood-bowl.net)

Mike is a sort of strange cross between a ‘skateboarding dude’ and a hippy. He’s sixteen and from Ipswich, where he regularly indulges in games of Blood Bowl, Necromunda, and Warhammer 40,000. Blood Bowl remains his first love, however, and he even has plans to write an article based on ‘Star Commentators’, including the sheepskin overcoat-wearing Halfling, John Mootson .. .. Groan!!!

by Acerak (www.blood-bowl.net)

Here, as I have learned them the hard way, are the maxims of Blood Bowl…

by Kohli (www.kohli.de)

Mit dem folgenden Artikel gehe ich auf die Fertigkeit Rasend genauer ein. Beim Blood Bowl kann sich diese Fertigkeit als äußerst nützlich erweisen. Für denjenigen aber, der unvorsichtig ist und sich gar nicht auskennt, kann auch damit ins offene Messer rennen.

by Stephen Babbage with Coach Blacknife (www.blood-bowl.net)

To me, Blood Bowl is a fun strategy game: yes, the most important element is strategy. In our league a team winning by luck alone is very rare; obviously luck does affect gameplay and can help determine the outcome of a game, but if the Coach is not using strategies and intelligence to win then they’ll find it difficult.

by Donnerfaust Thorsen (Sodalitas Dei Nomine Vacantis)

Da steht man nun einsam und allein auf dem Feld, elfische Wardancer wirbeln um einen herum, das einem übel werden kann, der gegnerische Brocken zerlegt dem eigenen Team in einem wahren Fäustesturm die Defense, und man selber hat damit zu tun, die ganzen Klauenkratzer der Werwölfe aus der Nekromantenrotte zu desinfizieren, bevor man sabbernd und zuckend vom Platz getragen wird. Muß das sein? Nein, denn es gibt ja jetzt den Ratgeber für´s “Besser Foulen”!

by Ian Williams (Games Workshop)

For as long anyone can remember, kicking a player when he is down has been an integral part of the game. In fact, many Blood Bowl players would happily stamp on their own mother, let alone a dazed star holding his bits, if they thought it gave them an advantage. Even the daftest Goblin knows that a well-timed kick can win the adulation of the crowd and maybe even the game!

by Asperon Thorn (Specialist Games Forum)

Human Teams

Humans
This team is an all around decent team. Thier strength lies in that they have no strengths or weaknesses. Everything is a 3+ roll. They have Movement 8 players, access to a Big Buy, access to all skills besides mutations. This team relies on its positionals but has enough of them to do what it needs to. In my opinion it is the best team to learn the game with because it can run, pass, bash, or finesse the ball into the endzone. After playing this team you can decide which part you like best and choose a team that is better for it. It is also a great team to revisit if you are bored with the one you chose, as it is a team that is decent with the style you like but refreshingly good at the parts you couldn’t do well before. It’s a good team throughout the TR ranges and don’t let anyone tell you different.

by Andy Meechan, with Harald Hedlund (www.blood-bowl.net)

The following may be of use to you in a few ways: you’re a beginning Coach; you want to learn some new plays; or you want to see if your favourite cunning plays are original after all. This should be of use to you unless you fall into the last case; the Lateral Plays page is probably more your style – here we’ll see basic kick-off Offensive and Defensive setups and take you through a turn-by-turn guide on how the play should progress. If you’re a new Coach you’ll find the word ‘should’ gains more meaning as you get into the game: experienced Coaches know what I’m talking about.

by Andy Meechan (www.blood-bowl.net)

You’ve played against the same Coaches with their same teams and their same tactics for a lot of games. You’ve no doubt sussed their favourite plays and have, hopefully, developed some nasty counter-plays of your own. You’ve also noticed that they use similar tactics no matter what race they Coach. No doubt they know the same about you.

What you need is to ‘throw them a curve’ in your plays, let them think and react and not respond like automata. Put some interest into your games again – this is, of course, where lateral thinking comes in.